OUR HISTORY

 

Our church was formed in 1800 by Richard Densham. Richard Densham was an itinerant preacher devoted to the idea of independence from the established church and one of the most devoted evangelists of the time. The original Chapel was at the other end of the village. Our current Church, still referred to as Chapel by some of the older members was built in 1871, the foundation stone being laid on 13th July that year, the total cost being £690.1s.6d!

 

During that time there have been 25 regular Ministers at Harting, some of them part-time and one, Rev'd Frank Cranham, having been our Minister on two separate occasions.

 

• 1866 - The Congregational Church opened their first village school.

• The first burial in our Church cemetery was the one-year-old son of the Minister at the time Henry Mercer.

• 1934 - Our magnificent organ was purchased for £150.

• 1937 - the Minister J. Arthur Andrew was the first incumbent to be married in our Church.

• 1942 - the Church Hall was used as a canteen for servicemen stationed in the area.

• 1944 - First coffee, cake & chat was held on Good Friday.

• 2000 - The 200th Anniversary of the founding of the Congregational Church in South Harting.